STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2788

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 351

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 351, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide additional sources of funding for the Aha Moku Advisory Committee.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to include the expenses for conducting meetings and other related functions of the state Aha Moku System and Aha Moku Advisory Committee in the Department's budget and to provide administrative support to the Aha Moku Advisory Committee;

(2) Allows the special land and development fund to be used for any expenses incurred by the Aha Moku Advisory Committee; and

(3) Appropriates funds for expenses of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Aha Moku Advisory Committee; Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Hoomanapono Political Action Committee; Kuiwalu Consulting; OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Native Hawaiian Organization Charity; and thirty-eight individuals.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs submitted written comments on the measure.

Your Committee finds that a significant challenge faced by the Aha Moku Advisory Committee has been the instability of its funding, which was completely exhausted as of January 1, 2017. Thus, the additional sources of funding established by this measure will allow the Advisory Committee to continue its important and innovative approach to natural and cultural resource management.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the use of moneys from the special land and development fund, as well as the measure's appropriation of general fund moneys for expenses incurred by the Aha Moku Advisory Committee, is for expenses incurred in the course of the Advisory Committee's duties under section 171-4.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Changing the appropriation from $350,000 to an unspecified amount;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 351, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 351, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair